Method and apparatus for aseptically canning



May 12, 1959 J. F RYAN, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING Filed March 21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ml QM 9m m Em mvw May 12, 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING Filed March 21, 1956 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 6 B A Z d 4 M 4% /W a w wy film Y M ///A M 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR 2,885,845

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I May 12, 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR

Q METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING Filed March 21 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING James F. Ryan, Jr., Castro Valley, Calif., assignor to W. F. and John Barnes Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application March 21, 1956, Serial No. 573,033 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for canning various products, and more particularly to a novel aseptic canning apparatus.

Systems heretofore proposed for aseptic canning generally utilize separate but interconnected apparatus for sterilizing containers and closures and for sterile filling and sealing. Thus the apparatus heretofore proposed is extensive and often complicated so that it is relatively expensive to manufacture and maintain and requires a considerable amount of floor space. Furthermore, in certain types of apparatus heretofore proposed the rate of production is limited by the time required for sterilizing the containers, and many problems are raised by the necessity for transferring sterilized containers from a sterilizing apparatus to a filling apparatus while maintaining sterile conditions.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel unitary apparatus for sterilizing containers and filling and sealing the containers under sterile conditions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel aseptic canning apparatus of the above described type which is capable of sterilizing, filling and sealing a continuously moving line of containers in a rapid and economical manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel aseptic canning apparatus which is of relatively economical construction and which may be easily manufactured and maintained.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which permits the use of a fluid such as steam under super atmospheric pressures for sterilizing purposes without requiring large pressure chambers for the containers or intricate pressure sealing valves for admitting or discharging the containers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which enables the atmosphere sealed in a container to be con trolled so that, if desired, oxygen may be eliminated from the container without vacuum sealing the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the principles of this invention partially broken away in order to show certain details of the construction;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view as viewed along line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 and partially .broken away to show certain elements of the apparatus in greater detail;

Fig. 6 is a simplified sectional view similar to Fig. 5

and showing the manner in which apparatus functions;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary partial sectional view showing the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts, are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an apparatus 10 shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention comprises a base or platform 12 supported on a plurality of legs 14. A stationary hollow center post 16 is secured to the base by any suitable means such as pins 18, and turret means 20 described in detail below is rotatably rotated on the center post by bearings 22 and 24 and is spaced above the base 12 by a spacing ring 26.

The turret 20 comprises a central cylindrical section 28 and upper and lower outer cylindrical portions 30 and 32, respectively, having relatively large and relatively small diameters and joined to the central cylindrical section by radially extending portions 34, 36 and 38. An annular gear member 40 is secured to the section 38 and is driven so as to rotate the turret by means of a pinion 42 secured to a shaft 44, which shaft is driven from a main drive shaft 46 through bevelled gears 48 and 49. Any suitable source of power, not shown, may be provided for driving the shaft 46. Annular flanges 50, 51 and 54, respectively, extend radially from upper, intermediate and lower portions of the cylindrical turret section 30 for the purpose described below.

Spaced around the turret are means for receiving and supporting successive containers 56. Each of these means comprises a lifter pad 58 mounted on a rod 60 slidably disposed for vertical movement in apertures provided in the turret flanges 52 and 54. A cam follower 62 is secured to the lower end of each of the rods 60, and the cam followers are disposed for engagement with a cam 64 mounted on the base 12. Cam 64 is shaped so that the lifter pads are lowered adjacent container receiving and discharge stations 66 and 68, respectively, and raised during the travel of the pads between these stations to permit sterilizing and filling of the containers in the manner described below. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the containers are successively delivered to the lifter pads from a chute or conveyor 70 by means of a star wheel 72 and a cooperable guide 74. It should be noted that the containers 56 are delivered with caps or closures 76 loosely disposed thereon. It will be appreciated that any type of container and closure which are adapted for a simple one stroke sealing operation may be used. The filled and sealed containers are stripped from the lifter pads at the discharge station by a guide 78 and are transferred by a star wheel 80 to a suitable conveyor 82. The star wheels are driven in timed relationship with the turret from the main drive shaft 46 through bevelled gears 84 and 86 and shaft 88 shown in Fig. 4. A gear 90 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 88 and meshes with similar gears 92 mounted on shafts 94 and 96 which, respectively, support the star wheels.

Each of the lifter pads 58 is disposed beneath and associated with one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced means 98 on the turret in which the containers are not only sterilized but also filled and sealed. As shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, each of the means 98 comprises a cylinder 100 having its upper end fitted within an opening in the turret flange 50 .and welded and sealed to the flange as at 102. Each cylinder 100 provides a chamber adapted to receive a container when the lifter pad is raised, and an annular seal ring 104 is provided at the lower end of each cylinder for engaging a raised associated lifter pad to seal the lower end of the cylinder.

this portion of the Valve blocks 106 are secured to the turret flange 52 in association with each of the cylinders 100, and each of the valve blocks is provided with an opening 108 therethrough axially aligned with its associated cylinder and a radially extending bore 110 receiving a slide valve 112. An annular seal ring 114 is provided at the upper end of each of the cylinders 100 for engaging the associated valve block and sealing the upper end of the cylinder. A flanged cylinder 116 is secured as by screws or the like to the upper face of the valve block 106 in axial alignment with the aperture 108, and a cap or closure sealing die 118 is slidably disposed in the cylinder 116 and actuated in the manner described below. An

annular seal ring 120 is provided between the cylinder flange and the valve block and another seal ring 122 is provided between the crimping die 118 and the cylinder 116 so as to seal the upper end of the chamber provided by the cylinder 100 and the aperture 108.

In order to remove a loosely assembled cap or closure 76 from a container so as to permit sterilizing and filling ofthe container, a permanent magnet 124 is associated with each of the crimping dies 118, which magnet picks up and retains the cap or closure when the crimping die is partially lowered prior to the sterilizing and filling operations. As shown best in Fig. 3, each of the magnets 124 is secured to a shaft 126 slidably mounted in its associated crimping die, and spring means 128 is provided for normally yieldably biasing the magnet to a position for engagement with a cap or closure before the crimping die has been lowered sufliciently to crimp the cap onto the containen.

A reservoir 130 for the product to be filled into the containers is mounted on radially inner end portions of the valve blocks 106, which reservoir is provided with a cover 132 and a domed bottom 134. The bottom is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged outlet openings 136 each of which registers with a passageway 138 in an associated valve body 106. Each passageway 138 is adapted to register with a flat or channel 140 provided in its associated slide valve 112 when the valve is shifted radially inwardly or toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3. When the slide valve is shifted radially inwardly, the product in the reservoir may flow through the openings 136 and 138 and the channel 140 and up through an opening 142 in the associated valve body. A measuring cylinder 144 is secured to each of the valve bodies in registration with the openings 142, and pistons 146 are respectively slidably disposed in the cylinders 144. During the upstroke of the piston 146 when the slide valve 112 is shifted radially inwardly, a predetermined quantity of the product is drawn into the cylinder 144. Subsequently the slide valve is shifted to the position shown in Fig.3 and the piston 146 is lowered as will be described more in detail below so that the product is ejected from the cylinder 144 and is directed through the channel 140 and a pasageway 148 formed in the slide valve into the open upper end of a properly positioned container.

In order to actuate the slide valves 112, each valve is, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, pivotally connected by a pin 150 to a lever 152. Each lever 152 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 154 on the radial turret section 34 and extends downwardly through slots 156 and 158 in the radial turret sections 34 and 36 respectively. Cam followers 160 are mounted on the lower ends of the levers 152 and engage a laterally disposed cam 162 on an upstanding annular member 164 mounted on the base 12. Each of the levers 152 is resiliently biased so as normally to urge the slide valves 112 outwardly and to maintain the cam followers 160 in engagement with the cam 162 by means of springs 166. Each of the springs 166 is looped around its associated lever pivot 154 and has one leg anchored to the turret section 34 as at 168 and another leg yieldably pressing outwardly against the pivot pin 150.

In order to actuate the crimping heads 118, a cam follower 170 is secured to each of the crimping heads 118, which cam followers project through slots 172 in their respective associated cylinders 116 and are disposed between annular cam elements 174 and 176. The cam elements are supported by bracket means 178 which are fixed on upstanding posts 180 mounted on the base 12. Each of the measuring and filling pistons 146 is also provided with a cam follower 182, which cam followers are disposed between annular cam elements 184 and 186. The cam elements 184 and 186 are also mounted on the posts 180 by bracket means 188.

The apparatus 10 is provided with means for sterilizing the containers after the containers have been lifted into the cylinders 100 and the bottoms of the cylinders have been sealed by the lifting pads 58. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this means includes a plurality of conduits 190 mounted in and extending through the cylindrical turret section 30 and respectively communicating with the interiors of the cylinders 100. At the inner end of each of the conduits 190 there is mounted a valve body 192 having a port 194 communicating with the associated conduit 190. Each valve body 192 also is provided with ports 196 and 198, respectively, communicating with annular manifolds 200 and 202 through conduits 204 and 206. The manifold 200 is connected with a source, not shown, of steam under pressure by a pipe 208 which is connected with a stationary pipe 210 extending through the center post 16 by rotary seal means 212. The manifold 202 is connected with a source of vacuum, not shown,

by a pipe 214 which is connected to a pipe 216 by a rotary seal 218. The pipe 216 is centered within the post 16 by flanges 218 and 220 which also serve substantially to seal the hollow center post 16 against the passage of air or the like therethrough. The lower projecting end of the pipe 216 is secured to a T connector 222 which is connected with a pipe 224 extending to the source of vacuum, not shown. A steam supply pipe 226 which has an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the T connector extends through one branch of the T connector and is connected with the steam pipe 210 which is disposed within the vacuum pipe 216. A suitable fiexible sealing device 228 is provided between the steam supply pipe 226 and the T connector.

Disposed within each of the valve bodies 192 is a slide valve 230 for selectively establishing communication between the interior of the cylinder 100 and the steam and vacuum manifolds. These valves are also preferably adapted to selectively establish communication between the interiors of the cylinders 100 and the atmosphere within the turret, which atmosphere is preferably maintained as a sterile inert gas for the purpose and in the manner described below. Each of the slide valves 230 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 232 so that when the valve is shifted in the body member 192 communication may be selectively established between the port 194 and the ports 196 and 198. In addition, each valve 230 is provided with a passageway 234 opening at the end thereof and adapted to establish communication between the port 194 and the atmosphere within the turret when the valve is in the position shown and the ports 196 and 198 are blocked from the port 194. The valves 230 are actuated by rods 236 respectively made integral with or secured to each of the valves 230, which rods slidably extend through suitable apertures in the turret sections 34 and 36. Each of the rods 236 carries a cam follower 238 at its lower end, and the cam followers ride on an annular cam 240 mounted on the base 12.

The product to be packaged is supplied to the reservoir 130 in a sterilized condition through a conduit 242 which is connected with a suitable source of supply, not shown. In order to enable the product to flow from the reservoir by gravity, the cover 132 of the reservoir is provided with a vent opening 244. The sterilized product within the reservoir is prevented from being contaminated by the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus by maintaining a sterile atmosphere above and around the reservoir, which sterile atmosphere is also maintained within the interor of the turret. More specfically, a housing is provided for confining a sterile atmosphere, which atmosphere is preferably composed of inert products of combustion. The housing comprises a cylindrical wall 246 supported by the upstanding posts 180 and a cover 248. A ring 250 is fixed within a lower margin of the cylindrical wall 246 and has an inturned flange 252 closely overlying but slightly spaced from the turret flange 52 so as to restrain the escape of the sterile atmosphere between the turrent and the wall 246. The clearance between the flange 252 and the turret section 52 need only .be sufficient to permit relative rotation between these parts and small amounts of the inert gases will escape between these parts so as to prevent the contaminated surrounding atmosphere from the entering the housing. Sterile gases are delivered by a conduit 254 through a substantially sealed opening in the top of the housing, which conduit is connected with a pipe 256 that communicates with a source of sterile and preferably cool products of combustion or any other suitable sterile gas. The sterile gas is preferably inert and oxygen free since oxygen tends to damage various products. The conduit 254 preferably extends through the vent 244 in the top of the reservoir and opens within the reservoir so as to insure the maintenance of a sterile atmosphere within the reservoir. The sterile gas is maintained under a slight pressure and after the reservoir has been filled, the excess gas flows out through the vent 244 and is directed by a deflector 258 throughout the housing surrounding the reservoir. As mentioned above, a small portion of the sterile gas leaks out between the turret flange section 54) and the lower margin of the housing so as to prevent the entry of contaminated atmosphere into the housing. In addition, the sterile gas passes between the valve blocks 106 and into the interior of the turret beneath the reservoir so that the sterile gas surrounds the valve bodies 192 and is available for introduction into the containers. Small portions of the sterile gases also constantly leak through the openings in the turret sections 34 and 36 provided for the levers 152 so as to prevent any contaminated atmosphere from entering within the turret.

The process for aseptically canning a product when using the apparatus described above is as follows. The system is initially sterilized by introducing hot sterile gases through the sterile atmosphere and product pipes 254 and 242 for heating the apparatus to a sterilizing temperature. After the sterilizing temperature has been held for a necessary length of time, cool sterile gas is introduced through the pipe 254 and a slight super-atmospheric pressure is maintained within the reservoir, housing, and turret. The product which has been previously sterilized by any suitable means, not shown, is introduced into the reservoir and a plurality of containers having caps or closures loosely assembled thereon is directed down the chute 70. Then as the drive shaft 46 is rotated to drive the turret and the star wheels, the containers are successively transferred from the chute 70 and deposited on successive lifter pads 58. As each lifter pad after having received a container at the loading station advances with the turret, it is raised by the cam 64 into sealing engagement with its associated cylinder 100. It is then locked in engagement with the cylinder by an associated pivotally mounted locking member 260 which is adapted to he slipped into a recess in its associated actuating rod 60. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the locking members 260 carry cam followers 262 engageable with a fixed annular cam 264. As will be understood, the cam slot of the cam 264 is shaped so as to shift the members 260 to and from locking positions as the members revolve with the turret. The locking members serve to relieve the cam followers 62 on the actuating rods 60 from strain when sterilizing i 6 gas or stream under pressure is admitted to the chambers provided by the cylinders and the lifting pads 58.

After each lifting pad has been raised and locked in engagement with its associated cylinder 100, its associated crimping head 118 is lowered by the cam elements 174 and 176 sufliciently to enable the magnet or other pickup device carried by the crimping head to engage the cap or closure of the container whereupon the associated crimping head is raised to the position shown best in Fig. 3. After this has been accomplished the associated valve 230 is shifted upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 by the cam 240 sufliciently to establish communication between the cylinder 1% and the vacuum line so that the interiors of the cylinder and the container therein are evacuated. Then the associated valve 230 is raised even further by the cam 240 so as to establish communication between the cylinder 100 and the steam line 204. The steam readily enters the previously evacuated container so that contact of the steam with all portions of the container interior surface is obtained and proper sterilization of the container is assured. At the same time, the steam fills the space or aperture 108 in the valve block and sterilizes the cap or closure 76 held by the magnet 124. Preferably, saturated steam under substantial super-atmospheric pressure is supplied for sterilizing purposes since the rate of heat transfer from saturated steam to a container surface is substantially more rapid than the heat transfer rate when a non-condensing sterilizing medium is used whereby the time for proper sterilization of the containers is reduced. In addition, the increased temperature of steam under super-atmospheric pressures which, for example, may range up to about p.s.i. further increases the rate of sterilization. For example, a container may be properly sterilized in about one second when saturated steam at 365 Fahrenheit and about 150 p.s.i. gauge is used.

After a container in a given cylinder 100 has been sterilized, the associated valve 230 is lowered by the cam 240 sufiiciently to again connect the cylinder with the vacuum line whereupon the steam and any oxygen present are substantially withdrawn from the container. Then the valve 23s is lowered further to the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the sterile atmosphere maintained within the turret is admitted to the cylinder 100 and into the container therein.

While a container in a cylinder 100 of a given sterilizing and filling means 98 is being sterilized in the manner described above, the slide value 112 of this means 98 is held in a radially inwardly retracted position by the cam 162 so that communication is established between the product reservoir and the associated measuring and filling cylinder 144. In addition, the piston 146 associated with this cylinder 144 is raised by the cam elements 184 and 186 so that a predetermined quantity of the product is drawn into the cylinder. Then after the container has been sterilized and the sterile atmosphere has been admitted to the container, the slide valve 112 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the piston 146 is lowered to discharge a predetermined quantity of the product into the container. Upon completion of the filling operation, the slide valve 112 is withdrawn to its retracted position and the associated crimping head 118 is actuated by the cam elements 174 and 176 to apply and seal the cap or closure to the container. Finally, the locking pin associated with this means 98 is withdrawn and the lifter pad 58 is lowered to position the filled and sealed container for removal from the turret at the discharge station. The supply of containers to the loading station may be interrupted for various reasons, and, therefore, the apparatus is provided with means for detecting the presence or absence of a container on a lifting pad leaving the loading station and for preventing subsequent discharge of the product into a container sterilizing and filling chamber in the event that a container is not disposed within the chamber. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5 through 8, it is seen that the apparatus is provided with a lever 266 pivotally mounted between its ends by pin means 268 to a bracket 270, which bracket is, in turn, mounted on the fixed cam ring 264. The upper end of the lever 266 carries a container detecting shoe 272, and spring means 274 is provided for biasing the lever to the position shown in Fig. so that the shoe 272 is disposed for engaging containers on the lifter plates or pads 58 leaving the loading station. The lower end of the lever 266 is connected with a lever 276 which has its opposite end pivotally connected with oneend of a lever 278. The opposite end of the lever 278 is fixed to a shaft 280 which extends upwardly and is rotatably supported within suitable apertures in the base 12 and a cam ring portion 282 on the annular member 164. A gate element 284 is fixed on the upper end of the shaft 280 for rotation therewith. The cam ring 282 is provided with a pair of cam slots 286 and 288 which merge as at 290 at a location radially adjacent the loading station. The gate element 284 is located adjacent the cam groove portion 290 so that it may be shifted to block selectively the grooves 286 and 288.

A plurality of detents 292 is pivotally mounted on the turret section 36 by pins 294, which detents are respectively associated with the slide valve actuating levers 152. Each of the pins 294 extends through the turret section 36 and is fixed to one end of a lever 296, and the levers 296 are respectively provided with cam followers 298 which are adapted to enter either of the cam grooves 286 and 288, depending upon the position of the gate element 284. When the cam followers 298 are disposed in the grooves 288, their respective associated detents 292 are pivoted away from the levers 152 so that the levers may be freely actuated to operate the slide valves 112 in the manner described above. However, if the cam followers 298 enter the groove 286 their respective detents 292 are pivoted so as to position shoulder elements 300 thereof behind their associated levers 152 so that the levers cannot be actuated to shift their respective slide valves 112 to container filling positions. The gate element 284 is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 5 by the spring means 274 so that as long as containers are not supplied to the lifter pads leaving the loading station, the cam followers 290 are directed into the cam groove 286 and the product cannot subsequently be discharged into the container processing chambers. However, when a container is positioned on a lifting pad leaving the loading station as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the container detecting shoe 272 is pushed outwardly and the lever 266 is pivoted so as to shift the gate element 284 in order to permit the cam follower 298 of the detent associated with the loaded lifting pad to enter the cam groove 288.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing successive containers each having a closure loosely disposed thereon, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from and in vertical alignment with the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means for introducing a processing fluid into successive chamber means and containers therein for processing the containers and closures in the chamber means, and means including extendable and retractable means for projecting laterally into each chamber means beneath a raised closure for filling processed containers in successive chamber means with a product.

2. An apparatus for packaging a sterile product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of container processing and filling assemblies mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing successive containers each having a closure loosely disposed thereon, each of said assemblies including a chamber means having an opened end, a plurality of container support means respectively associated with each of said chamber means for receiving successive containers and inserting the containers into their respective chamber means and for engaging the open end of and closing their respective chamber means, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from a container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means for introducing a sterilizing fluid into successive closed chamber means, and each of said assemblies including means for measuring a quantity of a product from a supply of the product and for discharging the measured quantity of product into a sterilized container in its associated chamber means, each of said measuring and discharging means including extendable and retractable means for projecting between a raised closure and a container for directing the product into the container.

3. An apparatus for packaging a previously sterilized product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of container sterilizing and filling assemblies mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means, a product reservoir centrally mounted on said revolvable means, each of said assemblies including pressure chamber means for receiving and enclosing a container having a closure loosely disposed thereon, means for removing the closure from the container, means for delivering a sterilizing fluid under super-atmospheric pressure into said chamber means, means for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of the product from said reservoir and discharging the product into a sterilized container in said chamber means, means for securely applying said closure to the filled container, and means for maintaining a sterile atmosphere around said reservoir, said product discharging means and said closure applying means.

4. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising rotatable turret means, means for continuously driving said turret means, a plurality of open ended chamber means mounted on and spaced around said turret means, a plurality of container supporting pads mounted on said turret means and aligned with said chamber means, means for delivering empty containers having closures loosely disposed thereon to successive pads passing one station, means for removing filled and sealed containers from successive pads at another station, means for successively shifting said pads advancing from said first mentioned station to locate containers thereon in associated chamber means and to close their associated chamber means, means associated with each of said chamber means for removing a closure from a container disposed therein, means for subsequently connecting each of said chamber means with evacuating means, a source of sterilizing fluid under pres sure, said evacuating means and a source of sterile gas, a product reservoir mounted on said turret means, cylinder and piston means associated with each of said chamber means for drawing a predetermined quantity of the product from the product reservoir and then discharging the product, slide valve means associated with each of said chamber means and their associated piston and cylinder means for selectively establishing communication between the cylinder means and the reservoir to permit filling of the cylinder means and communication between the cylinder means and said chamber means to permit the product to be discharged into a container in the chamber means, and means associated with each of said chamber means for securely applying the closures removed from the containers to the filled containers.

5. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, which includes means responsive to the presence of a container on successive pads for subsequently preventing the slide valve means associated with the chamber means from shifting to a product discharging position in the event that there is no container in the chamber means.

6. An apparatus for packaging a previously sterilized product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of containers, sterilizing and filling assemblies mounted on said revolvable means, a product reservoir centrally mounted on said revolvable means and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced product outlet openings in a lower portion thereof and respectively adjacent said assemblies, each of said assemblies including pressure chamber means for receiving and enclosing a container, piston means for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of the product from the reservoir and subsequently discharging the product, passageway means extending generally radially between each outlet opening and an adjacent chamber means, and members radially shiftably disposed in said passageway means for movement between radially inner and outer positions for selectively connecting said piston means with said reservoir and for connecting said piston means with said chamber means, each of said members including a passageway in an outer end portion thereof for directing the product from the piston means into a container enclosed by the chamber means when said member is in its radial outer position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, which includes a hollow central shaft supporting said revolvable means, telescoping pipes extending through said shaft and respectively connectable to a source of sterilizing fluid and vacuum, and means for selectively connecting said pipes with interiors of said chamber means.

8. An apparatus, as defined in claim 7, which includes means for maintaining a sterile atmosphere around said reservoir and said piston means.

9. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing at least portions of successive containers having openings therein and having closures loosely disposed thereon, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from and above the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means communicating with said chamber means for providing a predetermined atmosphere within said chamber means, and means including extendable and retractable means for 10 projecting into each chamber means between a raised closure and an associated container for filling containers in successive chamber means with a product.

10. An apparatus, for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means circumferentially spaced on said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing at least portions of successive containers having openings therein, means providing a source of a product to be packaged, a plurality of means respectively connected with said source and associated with each of said chamber means for measuring a quantity of a product from said source and for discharging the measured quantity of the product into a container in an associated chamber means, each of said measuring and discharging means including a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein for drawing the product into the cylinder and discharging the product from the cylinder, mechanical means connected with exposed portions of said pistons for actuating said pistons, means for maintaining an inert atmosphere around said pistons, and means for providing an inert atmosphere in said chamber means during filling of the containers.

11. An apparatus, as defined in claim 10, which is adapted to fill containers initially having closures loosely disposed thereon, said apparatus including reciprocable plunger means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, said means for maintaining an inert atmosphere around said pistons also maintaining said inert atmosphere around said plunger means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,262 Taylor Nov. 27, 1928 1,893,716 Ronzone Jan. 10, 1933 1,894,403 Konopak Jan. 17, 1933 2,023,824 Tone et a1. Dec. 10, 1935 2,327,430 Jackson Aug. 24, 1943 2,553,250 Gross May 15, 1951 2,663,481 Krueger et al Dec. 22, 1953 2,695,743 Wetherby-Williams Nov. 30, 1954 2,761,605 Pahl et al Sept. 4, 1956 

